By Ado Salisu
A major crisis has hit Kano Pillars Basketball Club as about 70 percent of the team’s players have reportedly abandoned camp over alleged poor welfare and unpaid entitlements, raising concerns about the club’s participation in the second phase of the Nigerian Premier Basketball League.
The club recently secured qualification for the next stage of the league, organized by the Nigeria Basketball Federation, after a successful outing in Jos, Plateau State.
The second phase of the competition is scheduled to commence on June 17, 2026, in Minna, Niger State.
Investigations revealed that despite the team’s impressive performance during the first phase of the league, players have become increasingly frustrated by what they described as neglect and poor treatment by the management of the Kano State Sports Commission.
Sources disclosed that the club faced financial difficulties even during the first phase of the competition in Jos, reportedly relying on borrowed funds to participate due to delays in the release of government funding.
A source close to the team confirmed that as of Sunday, June 7, 2026, nearly 70 percent of the players had left the camp and returned to their various destinations, citing uncertainty over their welfare and lack of assurances from the commission.
“It is unfortunate that just days before the second phase of the league in Minna, we are yet to receive our allowances and other entitlements, not to mention adequate preparations for the competition,” the source said.
The source lamented that the situation was affecting one of Nigeria’s most successful basketball clubs.
“Kano Pillars Basketball Club has won several league titles in Nigeria and represented the country with distinction in West Africa Zone 3 qualifiers and the FIBA Africa Clubs Championship. It is disappointing that the team is now struggling to prepare properly for the Savannah Conference,” he added.
The players appealed to Abba Kabir Yusuf to urgently intervene and address the challenges facing the club and the sports sector in the state.
When contacted, the Acting Chairman of the Kano State Sports Commission, Murtala Musa Dagumawa, acknowledged that funds had not yet been released but expressed optimism that the situation would soon be resolved.
However, he said he was unaware that players had abandoned the camp.
“I am not aware that any player has left the camp.
“The commission remains in constant communication with the club’s secretary regarding players’ welfare and activities, and we have not received any report of such development,” Dagumawa stated.
The development has cast doubt over the club’s readiness for the upcoming league phase, with fears that continued delays in addressing players’ concerns could affect Kano Pillars’ participation in the competition.